Strategic Review: Unravelling the Dynamics of India’s Nuclear Policy in the 21st Century

The country that gains independence after a long period of slavery, fulfilling basic needs, is naturally a primary concern. India was an economically weak country at the time of its independence. Therefore, it was natural that it paid more attention to fulfil the basic needs of its citizens rather than its nuclear needs. Maintaining its policy of non-alignment, India established strong relations with both the Eastern and Western blocs. Attempts were made to portray India as defensively weak due to constant conflicts with neighbours like Pakistan and China. Nuclear test by China and Chinese and American patronage to Pakistan placed India in a security dilemma and led India to acquire nuclear weapons. However, India’s purpose in acquiring nuclear weapons has never been to threaten or intimidate any other party and establish its influence, but to promote its domestic development and meet its security needs. It always opposes the unbridled race for nuclear arms. By keeping its civilian nuclear energy programmes and military programmes separate, it has avoided the illegal proliferation of nuclear technology.